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CHICAGO - The Smithsonian Libraries will host the program Preservation Matters! beginning at noon on April 24 in the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Washington, D.C. This event is part of the Preservation Week celebration April 21-27 and features Steve Berry, national spokesperson for Preservation Week.

From superstorms to blizzards to tornados to wildfires, America has frequently shuddered under the onslaught of natural disasters. “Why Preserving History Matters” will be the focus of the keynote lecture by New York Times and internationally best-selling author Berry. A devoted student of history and member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board, Steve and his wife, Elizabeth, founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the preservation of the fragile reminders of our past.

“History is more than what's in museums. It's what's lying on the side table in your den, or in a box in your attic - displayed in a frame on your nightstand, or stored in the basement. We are all custodians of history, and preserving these personal treasures, protecting them against loss and destruction is vitally important," said Berry.

Free and open to the public, Preservation Matters! will feature presentations and discussions on disaster response, pest management and archives preservation by librarians, conservators and preservation specialists from federal and local organizations. Participating organizations include the Smithsonian Libraries, Library of Congress, Folger Shakespeare Library, Defense Acquisitions University, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution Archives, National Portrait Gallery and the American Institute for Conservation. You'll learn how best to safeguard your family's history so that it can be passed on to the next generation.